Hello! The next chapter is here! I hope you like it!

I want to thank my reviewers: red-eyedgal, TeachYoHowToFly, Nala162024, Rose Atlee, ryuzaki25, phatlazykatt112, BabyBlueSkys, Flitch and lils! Thank you all so much! Your words make me smile! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd!

Chapter 25

A few days passed and Grace was still not allowed to leave the barber shop. Sweeney insisted on keeping her close to him. He hadn't mentioned what he had said to her again and he didn't speak to her a only stared and watched her didn't even let her walk out of the shop and she was becoming frustrated until she snapped one day. Sweeney was done shaving a lad when she stood up from the bed and glared at the barber in front of her.

"I've had enough!" she said throwing her hands in the air. Sweeney turned to look at her while he was cleaning his razor with one hand.

"What?" he asked her and she placed her hands on her hips.

"I want to go out. I want to cook. I hate eating bread and butter and cheese everyday and I hate not doing anything in general!" she snapped and he looked at her amused.

"And you just figured that now?" he asked her as he placed the razor in its holster.

"No. You just never listen to me. I told you these things a few days ago." She said tapping her foot on the floor.

"Well, that's too bad cause you're not going anywhere, pet." He said with a smirk as he went to stand in front of the big window.

"Come on, Sweeney! I won't go anywhere!" she said irritated and he smirked to himself at her temper which was even more appealing to him. He slowly turned around and approached her.

"What do I get?" he asked her in a low voice and she looked at him confused.

"Um…what do you mean?" she asked and he grinned.

"If I let you cook for a while…what do I get?" he asked her as he now stood inches away from her.

"Ah…I don't know…a sane roommate?" she said to him as she glared. He chuckled and shook his head.

"A kiss would do…" he said huskily and she narrowed her eyes at him before shaking her head,

"Nope." She said and he smirked.

"Come on, Gracie. You haven't kissed me for days now…" he whispered and she made the mistake to look in his eyes.

"Um…and you'll let me go downstairs?" she asked.

"Only to cook. Then you'll be up here again…with me." He said as he stared at her lips.

"Okay…" she agreed even though she knew that he didn't have to ask for a kiss. She would kiss him anyway. He kissed her softly and she closed her eyes as his hands went to her waist, holding her close to him. He released her and moved back from her. He went to the door and opened it for her.

"Well? Go on then. I'll come and get you in a few hours." He said and she quickly left the shop only to have him call her back.

"You want the key?" he asked her with a smirk and she came back to take it. She took it from his outstretched hand and headed for her shop happily. He listened until he was sure she was in before going back inside but leaving his shop door open.

Grace walked into the pie shop and sighed with relief. She was very happy that she had made him let her out for a few hours. He didn't have to worry about her escaping; she actually wanted to live with him. She wanted to be with him. She had gotten used to sleeping next to him every night with his arms around her. She didn't even want to get back to her own room because his bed was her bed.

She smiled and walked to the counter. She found a few things and she decided to make a soup with vegetables.

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A few hours later the soup was almost done and Grace was sitting at a chair waiting for it to finish cooking. She had been downstairs for three hours and she was surprised that Sweeney had let her alone for so long. She had expected him to be down every few minutes to check on her but she was wrong, A few more minutes passed when she heard footsteps coming from upstairs. A smile formed on her lips when she heard his quick movements as he walked down the stairs hurriedly. He opened the door and entered her pie shop. He looked really relieved to find her there and he slowly approached her.

"Is the food ready then?" he asked her nonchalantly and she nodded her head.

"It will be in a few minutes. Why don't you sit?" she asked him and he accepted her offer. He sat next to her and looked around the shop.

"You cleaned in here or something?" he asked.

"Yes…I had time." She replied and he nodded. She stood up and walked to the steaming soup. She placed it on the counter and looked at him with a smile.

"Should we eat here or upstairs?" she asked and he wanted to say 'upstairs' but he stopped himself.

"Wherever you want." He said softly and she smiled.

"How about upstairs? This shop has been closed for a while and it's rather cold in here, don't you think?" she asked and he smiled at her.

"Okay." He said, happy that she wanted to go to his shop. She nodded her head and placed tow bowls of soup in a tray along with bread and water. He got up and walked to her as she tried to pick up the heavy tray.

"Leave it, woman! I'll take it." He said authoritatively and she stepped back, biting back a smile. He took the tray in his hands and started walking to his shop while she closed the door and locked it. She followed him upstairs and closed the door behind them as he placed the tray on his night stand.

"Come sit, love." He said to her and she complied. She sat on the bed and he gave her a bowl of soup before sitting next to her. They ate in silence for a while until Grace spoke again.

"Had many customers?" she asked him and he shook his head.

"No, not many." He said after swallowing. She nodded her head and got silent again. They finished their food a while later and she wanted to tell him something that was torturing her for a few days. She cleared her throat and he looked at her.

"Um…Sweeney? Can I ask you something?" she asked as he took their empty plates and placed them on the tray.

"Go ahead." He said in his usual deep voice.

"I was wondering…if um…if you meant what you said to me … the other night." She said in a small voice and he immediately stiffened.

"What did I say?" he asked her as he avoided her eyes.

"That…um…that you love me." she said and he looked at her sharply.

"What about it?" he asked her and she moved around uncomfortably.

"Did you mean it?" she asked bravely and he quickly stood up and started pacing.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Grace. What if I did mean it? You have chosen not to give me any response anyway!" he snapped at her and she looked down at her lap.

"I just…' she started but he cut her of.

"You want me to say it again? So you can still leave me staring at you like a fool?" he asked her as he looked at her.

"No! Of course not! I just want to know if you really do mean it. Words don't mean anything at me. Actions do." She said calmly and he glared at her.

"Actions? Have I not proved it?" he asked her with narrowed eyes.

"Yes…you are kind with me…can you just please answer my question?" she pleaded him.

"I won't repeat those words without having them returned to me, Gracie. I'm no fool. Not anymore anyway…" he said as he looked at the floor with hard eyes before looking at her.

"But do you mean them?" she asked desperately and he was silent for a long time before answering her.

"Yes, I do mean them." He replied finally in a quiet voice that surprised her.

"Okay…" she said as she took a deep breath but he became inpatient.

"Why the bloody hell are you asking me this? Is humiliating myself once not enough?" he yelled at her and she looked at him with soft eyes.

"You are not humiliating yourself because…I …" she trailed of but she felt suddenly to shy to actually say what she wanted.

"What?" he asked her impatiently and she took a deep breath.

"Because I love you, Sweeney. I love you for sometime now." She said confidently even if she felt the exact opposite at that moment.

Sweeney stopped his pacing and stared at her with wide, shocked eyes. His mouth hanging open that it almost touched the floor.

"So, you see? I can say it back." She said softly as they stared at each other.

End of chapter 25

Author's note: Thank you for reading! So, Grace finally said that she loves him. Any ideas what might happen next?

Please review! Reviews are love! :)